Saturation transfer ratio imaging in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast

A prospective study was performed to investigate the correlations between saturation transfer ratio (STR) and histologic parameters of invasive ductal carcinomas in human breast. The histologic parameters investigated were the extent of fibrosis in the intercellular matrix, dysplastic changes of nuclei, and mitotic index. Twenty-seven patients with breast carcinoma were examined using an off-resonance saturation pulse in conjunction with conventional field-echo T(1)-weighted imaging at frequency offsets of 448 Hz and 1200 Hz from water resonance. The values of STR at frequency offset of 1200 Hz (STR(1200)) increased from non-scirrhous carcinoma to scirrhous carcinoma. Although STR(1200) showed correlation with the extent of fibrosis in the intercellular matrix (p<0.01, n = 27), they did not correlate with the dysplastic changes of nuclei or mitotic index. On the other hand, the values of STR at frequency offset of 448 Hz (STR(448)) demonstrated close correlation to dysplastic changes of nuclei and mitotic index (p<0.01, n = 27). STR(1200) correlates with the structural characteristics and STR(448) correlates with the nature of malignant cells with regard to nuclear dysplasia and mitotic potential.     

Uranium determination by133Xe in meteorites; comparative study with fission track and/or239Np methods and thermal release character of133Xe

Uranium concentrations in three types of inclusions of the Allende (C III), a bulk sample of the Plainview (H5), and a bulk and 5 to 15 density separates of the Huckitta pallasite were determined and discussed by comparing the results from homogenized fission track and/or²³⁹Np analyses with the¹³³Xe results. Stepwise heating experiment revealed that the¹³³Xe release from the Plainview is bimordal and incomplete by a simple heating at 1600 °C, and that the¹³³Xe releases in the Huckitta bulk and metallic samples are multitudinous but can be extracted rather completely at 1600–1700 °C. In the Huckitta, uranium-rich phase (∼100 ppb) was in the lightest density fraction of d=2.9–3.3, but the bulk uranium was found to be mostly from the heavy metal-rich fraction of d>4.2.     

Vibronic Structures in Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Firefly Oxyluciferin in Aqueous Solutions

To elucidate the factors determining the spectral shapes and widths of the absorption and fluorescence spectra for keto and enol oxyluciferin and their conjugate bases in aqueous solutions, the intensities of vibronic transitions between their ground and first electronic excited states were calculated for the first time via estimation of the vibrational Franck–Condon factors. The major normal modes, overtones and combination tones in absorption and fluorescence spectra are similar for all species. The theoretical full widths at half maximum of absorption spectra are 0.4–0.7 eV and those for the fluorescence spectra are 0.4–0.5 eV, except for phenolate‐keto that exhibits exceptionally sharp peak widths due to the dominance of the 0–0′ or 0′–0 band. These spectral shapes and widths explain many relevant features of the experimentally observed spectra.     

Pd(0)‐catalyzed polyaddition of bifunctional vinyloxiranes with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds: The synthesis of polymers containing hydroxy and carbonyl groups

The palladium(0)‐catalyzed polyaddition of bifunctional vinyloxiranes [1,4‐bis(2‐vinylepoxyethyl)benzene ( 1a ) and 1,4‐bis(1‐methyl‐2‐vinylepoxyethyl)benzene ( 1b )] with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds [methyl acetoacetate ( 4 ), dimethyl malonate ( 6 ), and Meldrum's acid ( 8 )] was investigated under various conditions. The polyaddition of 1 with 4 was carried out in tetrahydrofuran with phosphine ligands such as PPh₃ and 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe). Polymers having hydroxy, ketone, and ester groups in the side groups ( 5 ) were obtained in good yields despite the kinds of ligands employed. The number‐average molecular weight value of 5b was higher than that of 5a . The polyaddition of 1b and 6 was affected by the kinds of ligands employed. The corresponding polymer 7b was not obtained when PPh₃ and 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene were used. The polyaddition was carried out with dppe as the ligand and gave polymer 7b in a good yield. The molecular weight of the polymer obtained from 1b and 8 was much higher than those of polymers 5b and 7b . The polyaddition with Pd₂(dba)₃ · CHCl₃/dppe as a catalyst (where dba is dibenzylideneacetone) produced polymer 9b in a 92% yield (number‐average molecular weight = 45,600). The stereochemistries of all the obtained polymers were confirmed as an E configuration by the coupling constant of the vinyl proton. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2487–2494, 2002     

Synthesis of [60]fullerene-containing [2]rotaxanes using axle molecules bearing donor moiety

[2]Rotaxanes, consisting of a fullerene derivative bearing an electron-donating 1,5-dialkoxynaphthalene moiety and a macrocycle containing electron-deficient naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide moieties, were first successfully synthesized and characterized.     

X‐ray fluorescence analysis of sludge ash from sewage disposal plant

Glass bead/x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry of the sludge incineration ashes generated in sewage processing was developed for the determination of ten major components (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O, CaO, TiO₂, MnO, Fe₂O₃) and five minor elements (Zn, Cu, Cr, As, Pb). Sewage sludge ashes consisted of rock‐forming minerals and phosphate crystals that had been used for phosphorus removal. Ash samples were melted and molded with lithium tetraborate to 35 mm diameter glass disks in a Pt–Au crucible. Analytical results of ten major components and five minor elements agreed well with the recommended values of a phosphate rock standard reference material (NIST SRM 694). Elemental compositions of sewage sludge ash from seven sewage‐processing plants in Japan were determined using this method. Concentrations of Fe₂O₃, SiO₂, and CaO, along with loss of ignition in sewage sludge ash mutually differed among the sewage‐processing plant products. Seasonal variations in concentrations of ten major components and five minor components of ash samples produced from October 2001 to September 2002 were determined using the proposed method. Concentrations of SiO₂increased with the inflow of gravel by rainfall, thereby decreasing concentrations of P₂O₅ originating from excreta and microorganisms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.